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A. R. THOMPSON.

PRESSURE COOKER. 7 APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14. 1922.

Reissugd Apr. 11,1922.

5 swans-sue" I.

A. R. THOMPSON. v

PRESSURE COOKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, 1922.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2'. v

I Reissued Apr. 11, 1922.

I A. R. THOMPSON.

PRESSURE COOKER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3. 1922.

Reissued Apr. 11, 1922. 15,334:-

5 SHEETSSHEET 3- A. R. THOMPSON. PRESSURE COOKER. APPLICATION FILED Imps. 1922.

Reissued ADI- 1,1922.. 15,334.

5 SHEETS -SHEET 4.

' A. H. THOMPSON.

PRESSURE COOKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3. I922.

Reisued Apr. 11, 1922 15,334.

5 SHEETS SHEET 5- UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT R. rHoMrsoN, or SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, AssIGNon T0 ANDERSON-BARN- enovm MFG. 00., 0F SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION o-roemromvm.

PRESSURE COOKER.

Specification of Reissued Letters Patent.

Reiss'ued Apr. 11, 1922.

Original No. 1,385,594, dated Italy 26, 1921, Serial No. 413,589, filed September 29, 1920. Application for reissue filed March 3, 1922. Serial No. 540,898.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT R. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pressure Cookers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of pressure-cookers for canned goods. One of the objects of my invention is to provide simple and effective packing for the feed and discharge valves,- to render them fluid tight. Another object is to provide a driving mechanism for the moving parts which shall insure their timely operation.

Another object is to provide for an ac curate feed of the cans to the feed-valve.

Another object is to provide for the positive discharge of theean's from the top ot the cooker-shell, into and through the discharge valve.

lVith these and other objects in view. my invention consists in the novel pressure cooker which I shall now fully descriheby reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 10.

' Figure 1 is a side View, broken, and partly in section, of my pressure cooker. I

F ig. 2 is an elevation, broken, of .the feed end of the cooker.

Fig. 3 is an elevation, broken, of the discharge end of the same.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line ll of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view looking downon the interior of the shell in the vicinity of one of the partitions, showing the accelerated pitch of the helical rail.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the feed inlet on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a detail showing the cuts in the helical guide-rail to admit the cans from the inlet valve. I

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail of the can discharge on the line 8-8 .of-Fig. '1.

Fig. 9 is a vertical-section enlarged,- of

- the valves, either the feed or the discharge valve, showing the packing thereof.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side deta l on the line 10 of Fig. 11, showing the rim pack ing of. the valves.

Fig. 11 is a section on the line 11-11 of fixed helically directed rail 2, which is pref-- erably of T-section with its leg portion projecting inwardly. 3 is a rotatable shaft mounted in the axis of the shell and carryingthree pairs of spiders 4 which have secured to their rims the annular series of reel rails 5, said rails alining throughout the three reels. The rails are of angle section and .they lie and rotate within the helically directed rail 2 in such relation thereto that a can introduced, at one end of the shell will lie between the nails and will be directed thereby, by the-rotation of the reels throughout a continuous helical path to the other end of the shell. WVithin the shell are two partitions 6 Fig. 1, which occupy the full cross section of the shell, except at the. upper portion where, as shown in Figsl and 4 they terminate short of the upper arc of the shell, thereby forming inthe shell three successively communicating compartments.

The n'xed helical rail 2 where it passes- -in is merely illustrative of any form of cooker in which there is a rotatably driven member in connection with the can advancing instrumentality of the machine. I may also state that the interior division of the shell into compartments successively communicating, and the acceleration of the can path over the divisional partitions are features which form no part of my present application (being included in a separate ap plication) and areshown herein merely as illustrative of a pressure cooker to which the improvements and inventions hereinafter disclosed are claimed may be applied.

I have not deemed it-necessary to show herein the means for imparting heat to the shell interior. The medla for'this purpose circumference .being relatively may be water or steam or air; nor is there need to show means forelfecting and main taining pressure, as such pressure may be the result of the steam directly generated in the shell by a water content, or of steam or air under pressure introduced therein.

With this explanation, I shall now describe my improvements. These, as before stated, concern the packing of the valves; the tying together or, as it may be termed, the unification of the driving means, in order to insure the-timely operation, without torque or lagging, of all the moving parts; the accurate feeding of the cans to the feed valve; and the positive discharge of the cans from the top'of the cooker into and through the discharge valve.

The feed valve, indicatedby 7 is a cy1indrical member, having a series of can pockets 7 in its periphery. This valve is relativelyQ reel-y housed in a casing 8, having an op ning in its bottom leading into the main shell 1, and adapted to drop a can through a cut out at 2" of the fixed rail 2, Fig. 7, onto the underlying reel rails 5 in the first compartment of the shell, as shown particularly in Fig. 6. The valve by freely mounted in the casing, except for its yielding or resilient packing, is not liable to the undesirable effects of changes in temperature to which, particularly in a cooker itis exposed, .so that it will not freeze under expansion. But being thus generally free of its housing, it is is nevertheless required to be packed to render it fluid tight and avoid relief of pressure in the shell. This packing is relatively of small extent, but is subject throughout to resilient pressure, sothat it is both effective and not unduly frictional. The packing isshown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11. Fitted to arabbet seat in each side of the valve at its outer circumference, is a packing ring 9. This ring is pressed to its seat in the valve by springs'lO, and said ring is severed or splitat'Q'. as shown in Fig. 10, and is of a springy nature,so that it resiliently presses its circumference against the inner surface of the casing 8. are housed in the casing 8,. ings may if desired be in the form of screw glands 11, to adjust the''"pressure on the packing rings. Thus the rings 9 provide for a resilient side packing, To pack the rim of the valve there is slidably inserted in radial grooves 12' of the valvebetween the pockets 7, the packing plates 13, (Figs. 10 and 11) which are held out against the inner of the casing 8, by underlying springs 14. Asv will be seen the width of the packing plates 13 is greater than that of the opening from the valve casing into said plates stradthecooker shell 1, so that die the opening and are thereby prevented u from dropping out.

7 tatable wheel -by means of\an elevator 20 shown in The springs 10. and these hous 32 and with alatter is driven.

oh its other end a pinion 38.

The discharge valve,'shown in detail in ig. 8, is a cylindrical member 15 with circumferential pockets 15. It is housed in a casing 16, having a bottom opening in communication with the reel of the last compartment of the shell. Thecasing 16 also communicates with a Fig. 8. This discharge valve is packed in its casing similarly to the packing of the feed valve heretofore described, andfully illustrated in Figs. 9, .10 and 11. The cans are positively delivered to the discharge valve by the means shown particularly in Figs. 8 and 1 and consisting of a double ro- 18, having pusher teeth 19, which engage with the reel rails 5,,whereby said wheel is automatically rotated. These teeth by projecting through the interrail spaces and impinging on-the cans near each end positively and evenly lift the cans into the pockets of the valve, and thus pro- ,vide means fordischarging cans from the top of a cooker in which overlies the cooker shell. 7

.The cans are supplied to the feed valve Figs.

the discharge valve discharge chute 17,

2 and 6. The foot of the elevator is mounted on asprocket 21, and its head passes over a sprocket 22. A curved chute 23, Fig. 6, is located aboutthe head bight of the elevator and communicatesdirectlv with the receiving opening 8' in the valve casing 8; By means of this reversed chute, the return course.of the elevator,.as clearly shown in 6, is utilized to cans to the receiving accurately time their tion of the valve, into the pockets of which they drop with 'precision. j The improvement in the driving mechanism is shown in Fi .1,2and3.

pon the shaft 3, which rotates the reel members ofthe can path within the shell 1, is a large gear '24 at the inlet end of the cooker. This gearmeshes with a smaller gear 25 'on the shaft 26 which carries and rotates the feed valve 7. The gear 25 meshes with a pinion 27, Fig. 2, on a counter shaft 28, which carries a gear'29. Gear 29 meshes with a pinion 30, on a counter shaft 31, the other end of which (Fig.1) carries a pinion a gear 33. The pinion 32 meshes gear 34 on the shaft 35 of the head sprocket 22 of the elevator 20 whereby the The gear 33 meshes ,with a pinion 36 on-one'end of a shaft 37,- extendinglengthwise of. the machine and In Figs. 1 and 3, the discharge end of meshes with a the discharge meshes with a tar-shaft .43, w Gear 44 meshes 39 is a large gear on the reel shaft 3 This valve 15. The gear 40 also inion 42, Fig. 3, on a coun ich also carries a gear 44. with a pinion 45 on a councarrying gear 40 on the shaft 41 of ter shaft 46, the other end of which carries a gear 47 (Fig. 1) which meshes with the pinion 38 on the shaft 37. Upon the shaft 37 midway of its length is the driving pulley 48, through which power is led into the machine. The shaft 37 is driven at a relatively high speed, which diminishes its tendency to spring, due to torsion, and as both ends of the machine are driven by this shaft, any torsional strain which may take place will be distributed equally, assuming that said ends require the same amount of driving power. Furthermore, due to the relatively high speed of the driving shaft 37, and the large gear-reduction, any spring due to torsion will be materially reduced in direct relation to the amount of gear reduction. It will also be seen that the valves, which revolve at a relatively higher rate of speed than the reel within the cooker, are primarily driven, and the power is thence transmitted to drive the reel at both ends, which insures the relatively timely movements of both the valves and the reel.

In the common practice of'primarily driving the reel at one end only, and then in turn gearing up to the valves at each end of the cooker, the spring due to torsion in the relatively long reel-shaft is multiplied by the increased speed through the gear-train to the discharge valve, with the result that the latter revolves at varying speed. (00kers of this type are relatively long machines, and it is important that the drive shall be as free from spring or torque as possible in order that all moving parts shall operate in accurate time.

By my improvement, these parts being included in one endless train of transmission, the power being applied midway and thence extending to and through both ends and the motion reduced as required, all strains are equalized and the necessary relative times preserved.

I claim 1. In a pressure cooker, and in combination with its shell, and means for advancing canned goods therethrough, a can-passing valve-structure comprising a casing communicating with said shell, and a rotatable valve-member within said casing, provided with a peripheral series of can-pockets, adapted to be brought successively into register with the communication between the casing and shell; and packing rings mounted in the casing with their faces yieldingly fitted to the sides of said valve member, and their rims yieldingly fitted to the inner surface of the casing periphery.

, 2. In a pressure cooker, and in combination with its shell, and means for advancing 'canned goods therethrough, a can-passing valve-structure comprising a casing communicating with said shell, and a rotatable valve-member within said casing, provided rims resiliently bearing on the inner surface of the casing periphery and their faces bearing againstthe sides of the valve member,

and springs for holding said faces resiliently to said valve-member.

3. In a pressure-cooker, and in combination with its shell, and meansfor advancing canned goods therethrough, a can-passing valve-structure comprising a casing communicating with said shell, and a rotatable valve-member within said casing, provided with a peripheral series of can-pockets adapted to be brought successively into register with the communication between the casing and shell; packing plates slid-ably mounted radially in the periphery of said valve member between its pockets, and springs behind said plates for pressing them againstthe inner circumference of the casing.

4. In a pressure-cooker, and in combination with its shell, and means for advancing canned goods therethrough, a can-passing valve-structure comprising a casing communicating with said shell, and a rotatable valve-member within said casing, provided with a peripheral series of can-pockets adapted to be brought successively into register with the communication between the casing and shell; and packing plates slidably mounted radially in the periphery of said valve member between its pockets, and yieldingly fitting against the inner circumference of the casing, said plates having a width greater than the width of the communication between the casing and shell, whereby they are held in their radial seats in the valve member.

5. In a pressure cooker, and in combination with its shell, and means'for advancing canned goods therethrough; a can-passing valve structure comprising a casing com municating with said shell, and a rotatable valve-member within said shell provided with aperipheral series of'can pockets, adapted to be brought successively into register with the communication between the casing and shell; and means for packing said rotating valve member in said casing to render the valve structure fluid-pressure tight, consisting of split spring-rings mounted in the casing and yieldingly fitting their faces to the sides of said valve member and their rims to the inner surface of the casing periphery, and packing plates slidably mounted radially in the periphery of said member and yieldingly fitting against the inner circumference of the casing.

6. In a cooker, the combinationof a sterilizing shell; a movable member in the shell for connections from said valves cans from advancing cans therethrough {a movable caninlet' valve .to feed the cans to the shell; a movablecan-discharge valve to deliver the theshell; a drive-shaft; powertransmitting, from each end of said drive-shaft to the caninlet and can-discharge valves respectively; and power-transmitting, speed-reducing connections from said valves to each end respectively of the can-advancing member Within the shell.

7. In a cooker, the combination of a sterilizing shell; a rotatable member therein for advancing cans therethrough; a rotatable caninlet valve to feed the cans to the shell; a traveling elevator to supplythe cans to the inlet-valve; a rotating can-discharge valve to deliver the cans from theshell a drive-shaft power-transmitting, speed-reducing connections from each end of said drive shaft to the;

can-inlet and can-discharge valves respectively; power transm1tt1ng,

to each end respectively of the can-advancing member and can-discharge valves with the respective ends of the shaft of the.

I 9. Inacooker,

within the shell; and power-transmitting connections from the inlet-valve to the elevator.

8. In a cooker, the combination of asterilizing shell;- a rotatable member therein for advancinglthe cans therethrough, a rotatable can-inlet valve atone end of the shell, to feed the cans thereto; a rotatable can-discharge valve at the other end of the shell, to deliver the cans therefrom;' a shaft extending through the axis of the shell to rotate the can-advancing member; a drive-shaft extending longitudinally of the shell; and power-transmitting mechanism connecting the ends of the drive shaft with the caneinlet respectively, and

can-advancing member in a single endless train, said, powentrahsmitting mechanism aving a speed reduction from the drive shaft, to the valves and thence to the shaft-of the can-advancing member.

the combination of a sterilizing shell; a rotatable can-advancing member therein, a rotatable-can-inlet valveat one end of theshell; a rotatable can at the other end"; a shaft extending through the shell 'torotate the can-advancing mem her; a shaft to rotate the can-inlet. valve and shell; a v speed. reducing train of gears between the ends of the drive shaft and the valve shafts respectively and a-train f d reducing gears between the respective valve 1' shafts andlthe-respective ends of of the-can-advancin'g member;

10. In acooker, and in combinationwith its shell and means for through 'a rotatable can-inlet valve having the shaft a peripheral seriesofcan-receiving pockets;

speed reducing connections speed-reducing pock peripheral discharge valve advancing cans therean'endless traveling elevator the head bight of which-extends over and beyond said valve, with its return course passing directly above the pockets of said valve and continuing thence on these-me Side of the shell as its, direct course; and a fixed guide aboututhef head bight of the elevator, coacting with the return course thereof to positively carry the cans successively into timely registry with successive vvalve pockets and place them therein.

11. In a cooker and in combination with its shell and a rotating rail-reel-member for advancing cans therethrough; a rotatable candischarge valve associated with the top of the s shell, and adapted to receive the cans from the reel member; and a rotatable can discharge member within the shell underlying the discharge valve and within the circumference of the reel member, said discharge 8 member having peripheral teeth rotatably engaging the rails of the reel member and adapted to project therebetween and push the cans therefrom into the discharge valve. 12. In a cooker, and in combination with 9 its shell, having Within it a fixed helically directed rail and an associated rotatable railreel-member comprising a can track upon which the cans are advanced by the rotation of'the rail-reel-member; a rotatable can-dis- 9 charge valve with a peripheral series of cants, said valve being associated with the top of the shell in position to receive in its pockets the cans from the end of the cantrack; and a rotatable can-disharge member 1 within the shell, underlying the discharge valve and within the circumference of the reel-member, said discharge member having teeth engaging and projecting between the rails of the reel-member to rotate said discharge member and to lift the cans therefrom into'the pockets of the discharge valve. 13. In a cooker and in combination with its shell and a rotatable rail-reel-member 1 COIHPI'ISGd in a means for advancing cansreel-member; and a rotatable can-discharge member wlthin the shell, underlying the discharge valve and within the circumference of the reel-member, said discharge member 1 having a spaced double series of peripheral charge member and to impinge upon-the cans to lift them -uniformlyfrom the rails 1 and place them the pockets-o f-"the 'discharge valve." 14. Fora 'iyalve-structure comprising "a casing hav mg an- Inlet opening and an outlet opening 1 2Q teeth engaging and projecting between the a ,.ra1ls of the reel-member to rotate said dispressure cooker, 'j-a 'c arlpassing and a rotatable valve-member Within said casing, provided with a peripheral series of can pockets, adapted to be brought suecessively into register with the said openings; splitpring-rings carried by the easing, said rings having their rims resiliently bearing on the inner surface of the casing periphery and their faces bearing against the sides of the valve member, and springs for holding said faces resiliently to said valve member.

15. For a pressure cooker, a can-passing valve structure comprising a casing having inlet and outlet openings, and a rotatable valve-member within said shell provided with a peripheral series of can pockets,

adaptedto be brought successively into register with said openings; and means for packing said rotating valve-member in said casing 0 to render for the valve-structure fluid pressure tight, consisting of split spring-rings mounted in the casing and having their faces yieldingly fitted to the sides of said valve member and their rims to the inner surface of the casing periphery, and packing plates slidably mounted in the'periphcry of said member and yieldingly fitting against the inner circumference of the casmg.

16. In a cooker, the combination of a sterilizing shell; means for advancing goods therethrough, an inlet valve to feed the goods to the shell; a discharge valve to deliver the goods from the shell; a drive-shaft;

and power-transmitting speed-reducing connections from the ends of said drive-shaft to the can-inlet and can-discharge valves respectively.

17. In a cooker, the combination of a 40 sterilizing shell; a movable member in the shell for advancing cans theret-hrough, a movable can inlet valve to feed thecans to the' shell; a movable can discharge valve to deliver the cans from the shell; a drive shaft; and power-transmitting speed-reducing'connections from each end of the said drive-shaft to the can-inlet and can-discharge valves respectively.

18. In a cooker, the combination of a sterilizing shell; means therein for advancmg goods therethrough; a rotatable inlet valve to feed the goods to the shell; a travel- 1mg elevator to supply the goods to the inlet valve; a rotating discharge valve to deliver the goods from the shell; a driveshaft; separate power-transmitting speedreducing connections from said drive shaft .to the inlet and discharge valves respectively; and power transmltting connections 60. from the inlet valve to the elevator 19. In a cooker, the combination of a sterilizing shell; means for advancing the goods therethrough; a rotatable inlet valve at one end of the shell, to feed the goods thereto; a rotatable discharge valve at the other end of the shell to deliver the goods therefrom; means to rotate the advancing member; a drive-shaft extending longitudinally of the shell; and power-transmitting mechanisms connecting the ends of the driveshaft with the adjacent inlet and discharge valves respectively, said power-transmitting mechanisms havinga speed reduction from the drive-shaft to the valves.

20. In a cooker, the combination of a sterilizing shell; a rotatable member therein for advancing cans therethrough; a rotatable can inlet valve to feed the cans to the shell; a traveling elevatorto supply the cans'to the inlet valve; a rotating can discharge valve to deliver the cans from the shell; a drive shaft; power transmitting speed-reducing connections from each end of said drive shaft to the can-inlet and can-discharge valves respectively; and power-transmitting connections from the inlet-valve to the elevator.

21. In a cooker, the combination of a sterilizing shell; a rotatable member therein for advancing the cans therethrough; a rotatable can inlet valve at one end of the shell, to feed the cans thereto; a rotatable can discharge valve at the other end of the shell, to deliver the cans'therefrom; a shaft extending through'the axis of the shell to rotate the can advancing member, a driveshaft extending longitudinally of theshell; and power-transmitting mechanism connecting the ends of the drive shaft with the caninlct and can-discharge valves respectively, and power-transmitting mechanism having a speed reduction from the drive-shaft to the valves.

22. In a cooker, the combination of a sterilizing shell; a rotatable goods-advancing member therein; a goods inlet valve at one end of the shell; goods discharge valve at the other ,end thereof; a shaft extending through the shell to rotate the canadvanc' ing member; a drive shaft extending longitiulinally of the shell; a speed reducing train of gears between the ends of the drive shaft and the operating valves respectively,

and trains of speed reducing gears between the drive-shaft and the respective ends of the shaft of the goods-advancing member.

23. In a cooker, the combination of a shell; a rotatable advancing member therein; a rotatable inlet valve at one end, of the shell, a rotatable discharge valve at the other end; a shaft to rotate the advancing member; a shaft to rotate the inlet valve and a shaft to rotate the discharge valve; a drive-shaft extending longitudinally of the shell; and a speed reducing train of gears between thedrive shaft andeach of the adjacent valve shafts; and s eed reducing! gears between the drive sha ts and the respective ends of the-shaft of the advancing member.

' nections from the ends 'of' said drive shaftto the inlet and discharge valves respec v '24. In a'cooker, the combination of a sterilizing shell; means for advancing oods therethrough, an inlet valve to fee the goods to the shell; adischarge valve to-deliver the goods from the shell; adrive shaft;

and power-transmitting, speed-reducing conin the shell.

25. In a cooker, the combination of a sterilizing shell, means for advancing goods therethrough; a rotatable inlet valve .to feed the goods to the shell; a traveling elevator to supply the goods to the inlet valve, a ro-- tating discharge-valve to deliver the goods from the shell; a drive shaft; separate power-transmitting speed-reducing connections from each 'end of said drive shaft to the inlet and discharge valves respectively;

power-transmitting connections from the inlet'valve to the elevator; andpower-transmitting speed-reducing connections from said valves to each end respectively ofthe can-advancing member Within the shell.

sterilizing shell; means for advancing goods therethrough; an inlet valve at one end of the shell to feed the goods thereto; a discharge valve at the other end of the shell to deliver the goods therefrom;-a shaft extending through the axis of the shell to rotate the advancing member; a drive-shaft extending longitudinally of the shell; power transmitting mechanism having a speed re duction from the drive shaft to the'valves;

and power-transmitting, speed-reducing connections from said drive shaft to each end respectively of the advancing member with.

in the shell. I

4 a cooker, the combination of a sterihzmg shell; a rotatable can advancing member therein; a rotatable can inlet valve at one end of the shell; a rotatable can dis charge valve at the other end; a shaft. extending through the shell to rotate the can advancing member; a shaft to rotate the can mlet valve and a shaft to rotate the can" discharge valve;

a drive shaft extending lon-f gitudinally of the train of gears between the' drive shaft and" each of the valve shafts; and speed reducing gears between each valve shaft and the ad jacent end of the shaft ,of the can-advancing member.

, 28; In acooker, the combination of i sterilizing shell; a-movable'member in the "shell foradvancing cans therethrough, a movable can inlet the shell; a movable can discharge valve to deliver the cans. from the shell; a drive shaft; and power-transmitting, speed-re novalve to feed the cans to ing connections from the end of said dr ve j to feed the-goods into tn shaft to the can-inlet and can discharge valves respectively; and power-transmittin of said drive shaft tothe can-inlet and can- .diszrharge valves respectively, power transmitting connections from the inlet valve to the elevator, and power-transmitting speedreducing connections from said valves to each end respectively of the can-advancing member Within the shell.

30. In a cooker, the combination of a sterilizing shell; a rotatable member therein for advancingthe cans therethrough; a rotatable can inlet valve at one end of the shell tofeed the cans thereto; a rotatable can 1 discharge valve at the other end of the shell 26. In acooker, the combination of a to deliver the cans therefrom; a shaft ex- .-to feed "the goods to the shell; means to I deliver the goods from the shell; and a drive shaft and powerstransmitting, speed reducing' zconnections from each end of said drive shaft to each end respectively of the advancing? member Within the shell. V V

- 32. In a cooker, the combination of a sterillizing shell; a rotatable member therein for shell; a speed reducing-1 "advancing goods therethaough, means'to feed the goods ,to the shell; aztraveling elevator to supply the cans tothe feed "means;

"means to deliver. the goods from the shell; '"a drive shaft; and. poweratransmitting, Speed-reducing connections. from, each end ofsaid drive shaftto each end respectively of the advancing. member Within the shell;

and power-transmitting connections: from the drive shaft to the elevator.v '33. In acooker, the combination of'ja sterL lizing shell;.a rotatable me rtheiieinjfof advancing the goods the 'h;""* means H d ofthesl fell;

.1 shaft extending through the axis of the 411011 to rotate the advancing member; a hive shaft extending longitudinally of the duell: and power-transmitting mechanisms connecting each end of the drive shaft with the respective end of the shaft of the advancin member in a single endless train. 34. ill a cooker and in combination with its shell and a rotating member for advancing cans therethrough; discharge means adapted to receive the cans from the rotating member; and a rotatable can discharge member within the shell and within the circumference of the rotating member, said discharge member having peripheral teeth adapted to push the cans from the rotating member into the discharge meansl In a cooker, having a shell, and within it a fixed helically directed rail and an associated rotatable member by which the cans are advanced; a rotatable can-discharge means having a series of can pockets and associated with the top of the shell in posi-' tion to receive in its pockets cans from the can-track: and a rotatable can-discharge member within the shell and within the cireun'iference of the rotatable member; said discharge member having peripheral teeth adapted to lift the cans from the rotatable member into the pockets of the discharge means.

i In a cooker and in combination with its shell and a rotatable member and means reacting with the rotatable member for advancing cans through the shell; a can-discharge means havinga series of can-pockets, and associated with the top of the shell in position to receive in its pockets the cans from the rotatable member; and a rotatable can discharge member within the shell; underlying the discharge means and withinthe circumferem-e of the rotatable member; said discharge member having a plurality of series of peripheral teeth adapted to project beyond the periphery. of the rotatable member and lift the cans from the rotatable member and place them in the pockets of the discharge means.

37. In a cooker and in combination with I its shell and a rotating rail-reel-member for adwrncing cans therethrough, a rotatable ran-discharge valve associated with the top of the shell, and adapted to receive the cans from the rotating member; and a rotatable i can-discharge member within the shellunderlying-the discharge valve and within the circumference of the rotating member, said discharge member having peripheral teeth adapted to push the cans from the rotating member into the discharge valve.

38. In a cooker, and in combination with its shell, having within it. a fixed helically directed rail and an associated rotatable member comprising acan track upon which the cans are advanced by the rotation of the rotatable member; a rotatable can-discharge valve with a peripheral series of can pockets, said valve being associated with the top of the shell in position to receive in its pockets cans fro-m the can-track; and a rotatable can-discharge member within the shell, underlying the discharge valve and within the circumference of the rotatable member, said discharge member having peripheral teeth to lift the cans from the rotatable member into the pockets of the discharge valve.

39. In a cooker and in combination with its shell and a rotatable rail-reel-member comprised in a means for advancing cans through the shell; a rotatable can-discharge valve with a peripheral series of canpockets, said valve bein associated with the top of the shell in position to receive in its pockets the cans from the rotatable member, and a rotatable can discharge member within the shell underlying the discharge valve and within the circumference of the rotatable member, said discharge memberhaving a plurality of series of peripheral teeth projecting beyond the periphery of the rotatable member and adapted to lift the cans from the rotatable member into the pockets of the discharge valve.

40. In a cooker, the combination of a sterilizing shell; a rotatable member therein for advancing goods therethrough; a rotatable inlet valve to feed the goods to the shell; means to supply the goods to the inletvalve; a rotating discharge valve to deliver the goods from the shell; a drive shaft; power-transmitting speed-reducing connections from each end of said drive shaft to the inlet and discharge valves respectively; power-transmitting speed-reducing connections from said valves to each end respectively of the advancing member within the shell; and power-transmitting connections from the inlet-valve to the said supply means.

41. In a cooker, the combination of a sterilizing shell; a rotatable member therein for advancing the goods therethrough; a rotatable inlet valve at one end of the shell to feed the goods thereto; a rotatable dis charge valve at the other end of the shell to deliver the goods therefrom; a shaft extending through the axis of the shell to rotate the advancing member, a drive-shaft extending longitudinally of the shell; and power-transmitting mechanisms connecting the ends of thedrive shaft with the inlet the shaft of the advancing-member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as n my own, I aifizing signature.

ERT R; THOMPSON. 

